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WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- When a heat wave lasts as long as this one, sometimes people have to get creative in finding ways to stay cool.

People throughout the D.C. Metro area are beating the heat and conquering cabin fever at the same time!

It has already been in the 90s for three straight days, and the First Alert Forecast is calling for temperatures to be in the upper 90s again tomorrow through the end of the week.

And with the humidity making it feel even hotter, people are pulling out all the stops in an effort to stay cool on the National Mall. On a day like today, a cold drink or an ice cream cone aren't going to be enough to take the edge off.

The next best thing to air conditioning is some nice, cool water. From a bottle, or better yet, from one of the fountains in the area.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA9) -- Myra Oppel was sitting in her office at Pepco's Headquarters when the Derecho of 2012 hit.

She watched as the power company's outages jumped from a few thousand to almost half a million. By the time it was all over, more than two-million people in Virginia, Maryland, and the District were in the dark, and it would take nearly two weeks before all the power was restored.

Almost a year later, Oppel met with WUSA9 to discuss what Pepco's doing to prepare for this latest round of storms.

On June 29th, like so many in the path of the Derecho, my power went out around 10PM. For roughly two days. Almost immediately I felt an itchiness arising from my carpet. By Sunday, since my apartment faces West and catches the afternoon Sun, I sought shelter in a hotel, as the temperature in my unit was fast approaching 90 degrees. I'm originally from upstate New York. Growing up, Summer was six weeks. I don't do heat, let alone this!

When I swung by my abode Monday morning, I had power, so I checked out of my temporary digs. The A/C was on; the apartment was cooling; but the scratchiness remained.

A heat advisory is in effect for much of the DMV area on June 29 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For this reason, the Charles County Department of Community Services is offering reduced admission at all pool locations to help residents cool down.

The discounted price for open swim will go into effect at 3 p.m. until closing. All visitors will be admitted for $2.00 during these times.